American telecoms giant AT&T is seeking a patent for a blockchain-based social media history “map”. The patent application was published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Dec. 13.
AT&T’s patent application describes a blockchain-powered system that may include a transaction history controller to store subscribers’ data, which may be used for various purposes. The file outlines a number of particular cases, such as creating and sharing information, ideas, and career interests through virtual communities and networks.
Broadly speaking, by deploying the system users could purportedly track “micro-culture transactions”, like tracing current trends at a particular time or place, or behavior of their friends. That ability, per the patent application, “may have enormous value in e-commerce, marketing, and targeted advertising”.